Retail & Consumer Newsletter - July 2018

Welcome to the July edition of the Retail and Consumer newsletter

David Attenborough's Blue Planet series has helped to focus minds of the nation on the plastic we buy and use. Every year Europeans generate 25m tonnes of plastic waste, but less than 30% is collected for recycling in the UK. We have already seen a number of retailers, restaurants and bars make changes to reduce plastic waste, and in the article below I talk about how focusing on prevention will help to reduce the pressure on recycling and recovery of waste.

We also have a piece from our Commercial Associate, Hayley Anderson, which discusses the CAP review into the effectiveness of the rules relating to the advertising of food and soft drinks high in fat, salt and sugar to children in non-broadcast media.

Amazon was recently the subject of an article highlighting the risks associated with warehousing activities. Global Investigations Partner, Erin Shoesmith, outlines several other issues that retailers need to be aware of.

Large UK businesses must now report every six months on how quickly they pay their suppliers. Principal Knowledge Lawyer Katie Kinloch from our Commercial team discusses 9 key facts about reporting payment practices and performance.

This month's articles

Moving from recycling to waste prevention

In the latest move to tackle the escalating plastic waste problem, the UK is planning to ban the sale of plastic straws and drinks stirrers, as 8.5 billion are thrown away each year. Find out more by reading our article here.

Health and safety issues for retailers

Reporting on payment practices and performance

Large UK businesses must now report every six months on how quickly they pay their suppliers. Qualifying businesses which have a 31 December year end should therefore make their first report by 30 July, please read our article here.